Model of the neutral and ion nitrogen chemistry in the daytime thermosphere of Venus

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL006i010p00791· OSTI ID:5910815

Rusch, D W; Cravens, T E

Density profiles of N(/sup 4/S), NO, N(/sup 2/D), NO/sup +/ and N/sup +/ are calculated for the thermosphere of Venus. The results show that N(/sup 4/S) is the dominant odd nitrogen species throughout the thermosphere and has a maximum density of 1.8 x 10/sup 7/ atoms cm/sup -3/ at 132 km. The calculated NO/sup +/ density agrees well with recent Pioneer Venus measurements but the calculated N/sup +/ densities are a factor of two to five less than the measurements. The production of N(/sup 4/S) atoms generated in the model is adequate to explain recent measurements of the nitric oxide chemiluminescent emission on the night side of Venus.

• Research Organization: Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309
• OSTI ID: 5910815
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 6:10; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHARGED PARTICLES
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
IONS
NITRIC OXIDE
NITROGEN
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN IONS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETS
QUANTITY RATIO
VENUS PLANET